Embedded Files
Opening the Festival on Friday 18th Septembe
Pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason is captivating audiences with her “maturity in performance and interpretation, the former an uncanny phenomenon”. The third of the Kanneh-Mason clan to establish herself as a soloist, Jeneba recently made her BBC Proms debut with the Chineke! Orchestra, performing the Florence Price Concerto and was heralded by the press as “demonstrating musical insight, technical acuity and an engaging performing persona”.
Jeneba was a Keyboard Category Finalist in BBC Young Musician 2018 and winner of the Murs du Son Prize at the Lagny-Sur-Marne International Piano Competition in France, 2014.
Jeneba was named one of Classic FM’s ‘Rising Stars’. She has also been featured on several television and radio programmes, including Radio 3, In Tune, The BAFTAs, The Royal Variety Performance and the documentary for BBC4, “Young, Gifted and Classical”. She has recorded for the album Carnival with Decca Classics.
In January 2026 she was nominated for the BBC Music Magazine Newcomer Award.
We are delighted to welcome Jeneba to Sarratt with a wonderful varied programme:
Scarlatti Sonata in E minor Kk. 98
Mozart Sonata no. 10 in C KV330
Florence Price Sonata in E minor
Chopin Four Ballades
https://www.jenebakannehmason.com
On Saturday 19th September
Giants Of Jazz Piano
Our ever-popular jazz night explores the many styles of jazz piano over 100 years with a swinging 8-piece band led by world-class pianist and jazz scholar Martin Litton.
Commencing with Scott Joplin and Ragtime in St. Louis through to New Orleans, where Jelly Roll Morton combined Rags, Blues and Latin music to crown himself the Originator of Jazz and Stomps. Thence to Harlem stride and the music of James P Johnson, Willie 'The Lion' Smith and 'Fats' Waller.
The Chicago scene of the late 1920s and early 1930s is represented by the boogie-woogie of Meade 'Lux' Lewis and the revolutionary pianism of Earl 'Fatha' Hines.
The pivotal roles of Duke Ellington and Count Basie are acknowledged as a prelude to the Swing Era, a period that rejoiced in the talents of Teddy Wilson, Mary Lou Williams, Nat Cole, Erroll Garner and the great Art Tatum.
The programme ends with two pioneers of bebop, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk.
The Jazz Repertory Company founded by Richard Pite is the UK's premier producer of authentic live recreations of the greatest music in jazz history. Over the last twenty years they have been presenting a wide variety of shows featuring the UK's finest jazz musicians including “100 Years of Jazz in 99 Minutes”, and “Benny Goodman Orchestra's 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert”.
https://www.jazzrep.co.uk/
On Friday 25th September
AQUARELLE GUITAR QUARTET
Michael Baker, Vasilis Bessas, James Jervis, Craig Ogden
“All is performed with that same customary blend of high-octane virtuosity, relaxed lyricism, tonal richness and perfection of ensemble which has made the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet not merely one of the world’s leading guitar ensembles, but, for sheer imagination and musicality, equal to the finest string quartet going” Gramophone Magazine.
Recognised as one of the world’s leading guitar quartets, the award-winning Aquarelle Guitar Quartet is celebrated for its captivating performances, rich tonal palette and imaginative programming. Dynamic and innovative, the quartet has earned international acclaim for its expressive artistry and seamless ensemble work.
Formed in 1999 at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) under the guidance of Craig Ogden and Gordon Crosskey, the quartet went on to study with guitarists including Sérgio Assad, Oscar Ghiglia, and Scott Tennant. Early successes included awards from the Musicians Benevolent Fund, Tillett Trust, and Tunnell Trust, setting the stage for a distinguished career. At the heart of their artistry lies a commitment to diversity of repertoire: from early Renaissance works to contemporary commissions, AGQ brings new life to the music of composers ranging from Rossini, Albeniz and Piazzolla to Jobim, Sakamoto and Santaolalla. They have premiered works by distinguished composers including Carlos Rafael Rivera (USA), Phillip Houghton (Australia), Stephen Dodgson (UK), and Nikita Koshkin (Russia). Since signing exclusively with Chandos Records in 2009, the quartet has released six acclaimed albums, their debut receiving five stars from BBC Music Magazine for both performance and recording, with later releases praised in the International Record Guide, American Record Guide, Classical Guitar Magazine, and Gramophone Magazine (Editor’s Choice), as well as being named Classic FM’s CD of the Week. Their recordings showcase not only their technical brilliance but also their boundary-pushing vision of what the guitar quartet medium can achieve.
In 2023, Craig Ogden joined the quartet, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter. A world-renowned soloist and distinguished chamber musician, Craig brings exceptional artistry to the ensemble. Their latest album, Latin Connections, is a vibrant exploration of South American music, released on Chandos Records in October 2025.
Their concert for Sarratt will showcase music from the Renaissance to the 21st century.
https://www.aquarellegq.com
On Saturday 26th September
APOLLO5 4pm Workshop and 7.45pm Concert “A Day in Paradise”
APOLLO5
Penelope Appleyard – soprano
Lily Robson – alto
Thomas Mottershead – tenor
Joseph Taylor – tenor
Augustus Perkins Ray – bass
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE: “exceptional cohesion and effortless style… faultless”. ★★★★★”
APOLLO5 stands out as one of Britain’s smallest but most dynamic vocal groups. Comprising a soprano, alto, two tenors and a bass, the ensemble has earned a reputation for its ability to connect intimately with audiences whilst producing a rich, vibrant and versatile sound. With a repertoire that embraces Renaissance, classical and contemporary choral works, alongside folk, jazz and pop, the group’s five voices vividly bring five centuries of music to life.
APOLLO5’s extensive touring schedule has taken the group across Europe, the USA, and Asia. The ensemble has performed at renowned UK venues including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Sinfonia Smith Square, the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican Centre. They have also toured widely in France, Germany and other European countries, with recent highlights including collaborations with an orchestra in Lisbon and a brass band in Prague. Regular appearances on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and frequent airplay on Classic FM, Magic Classical and NTS Radio reflect their broad appeal. The group has released seven solo studio albums on the VOCES8 Records label, the latest of which is Anam (2025), a Gaelic inspired collection of “Music to Move the Soul”.
As part of the VOCES8 Foundation, APOLLO5 works alongside VOCES8 and Paul Smith to deliver a transformative programme of workshops, masterclasses and concerts to over 40,000 young people annually in the UK, Europe, the USA and Asia.
4pm Workshop - Come along and sing with APOLLO5. No music-reading, no preparation, just an hour of energising, life-affirming music-making. Start with a dynamic warm-up using the Voces8 Method and learn their vibrant arrangement of Wade in the Water entirely by ear. Enjoy the chance to ask questions and be inspired by a live performance from APOLLO5 in advance of their evening concert. Just bring your voice and get ready for an hour of harmony – and fun!
7.45pm Concert “A Day in Paradise”
APOLLO5’s evening programme explores a delightfully eclectic mix of musical styles with many original arrangements.
Expect music from William Byrd, Eric Whitacre, Monteverdi, Gershwin, Tom Petty and Bill Withers amongst others.
https://www.apollo5.co.uk
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